---
title: What is the Digital Apprenticeship Service?
description: apprenticeship funding, digital service, DAS, government funding, levy, non levy, course fees
---
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1. [Business Plus Support Resources](https://businessplus.shcg.ac.uk/trainingresources?hsLang=en-gb)
2. [Digital Apprenticeship Service](https://businessplus.shcg.ac.uk/trainingresources/digital-apprenticeship-service?hsLang=en-gb)
8 December 2025
# What is the Digital Apprenticeship Service?
## The Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) is the government’s online system for managing apprenticeship funding and training in England.
#### **1. What is the Digital Apprenticeship Service?**
The Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) is the government’s online system for managing apprenticeship funding and training in England.
From an **employer’s perspective**, DAS lets them:
\- Set up and manage a digital apprenticeship account
\- Access government funding for apprenticeship training
\- Select an approved training provider
\- Approve apprenticeship details and training costs
\- View and manage their apprentices over time
For **apprentices**, DAS helps ensure that:
\- Their apprenticeship is registered correctly
\- Their programme, start date and planned end date are recorded
\- Funding is in place so their training can go ahead as planned
As a **training provider**, we rely on accurate set‑up in DAS so that funding flows correctly and on time.
\---
#### 2. How South Hampshire College Group uses DAS
Internally, we use DAS to:
\- **Accept employer reservations / commitments** for apprentices
\- **Create and manage cohorts** linked to the correct apprenticeship standard and price
\- **Check and align data** (learner details, start dates, planned end dates, price) with the ILR and our MIS
\- **Monitor employer approvals** to ensure all records are confirmed in time
\- **Identify issues** that could delay or block funding (e.g. missing approvals, incorrect prices, wrong start dates)
**Correct use of DAS is directly linked to**:
\- Our ability to draw down funding for each apprentice
\- Timely and accurate payments to the college
\- Avoiding funding queries, clawbacks or compliance issues
**You can [see the full details on the government website](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-register-and-use-the-apprenticeship-service-as-a-training-provider), or watch this short video to understand more about the DAS and how to use it as a provider**
\---
#### **3. Guiding employers: DAS account set‑up**
New staff are not expected to be technical experts, but you must be confident explaining the basics and signposting employers to the right support.
When supporting an employer, you should:
\- Confirm whether they **already have a DAS account**
\- If not, explain that they will need to:
\- Create a DAS account
\- Add their organisation and PAYE details
\- Add the main contact(s) who will approve apprenticeships
Your role is to:
\- Explain **why DAS matters** (unlocking funding, keeping control of apprenticeships)
\- Provide or signpost to our [how‑to materials for employers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDK6ITrobpk) (there are also templates in hubspot to share DAS resources with employers)
\- Escalate any complex set‑up issues to the appropriate internal contact (e.g. apprenticeships operations/admin team)
\---
**4. Guiding employers: adding apprentices and approving cohorts**
Once an employer’s account is live, our focus is on ensuring:
1\. **The right provider is selected** (South Hampshire College Group)
2\. **Cohorts are created and match our records**
3\. **Apprentices are added and approved promptly**
#### **Key points for new staff**
We must encourage employers to:
1\. Approve cohorts as soon as they receive them
2\. Approve the price and details\*\* for each apprentice
3\. Keep their DAS account up to date if there are changes (e.g. breaks in learning, employer changes)
\---
#### 5. Link between DAS and apprenticeship funding
For each apprentice, we can only receive funding if:
\- The apprenticeship record is set up correctly in DAS
\- The employer has approved the details (cohort and individual learners)
\- Our ILR and DAS data are aligned (learner details, start dates, prices, etc.)
If something is missing or wrong in DAS, this can result in:
\- Delayed payments
\- Underpayments or overpayments
\- Additional administrative work to correct records
\- Compliance risks in audits
Within Business Development, we:
\- Understand where DAS fits in the process
\- Prompt employers early and clearly about what they need to do, and by when
\- Escalate issues where approvals are delayed or details do not match
\---
**Keeping DAS accurate and up to date is a shared responsibility. By understanding the system and guiding employers confidently, you help protect apprenticeship funding and support a smooth experience for our learners and partners.**
**[You can sign in to your DAS account here](https://providers.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/)**
- [Support](https://businessplus.shcg.ac.uk/trainingresources/support?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Hubspot](https://businessplus.shcg.ac.uk/trainingresources/hubspot?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Getting Started](https://businessplus.shcg.ac.uk/trainingresources/hubspot?hsLang=en-gb#getting-started)
- [Apprenticeships - New Starts](https://businessplus.shcg.ac.uk/trainingresources/hubspot?hsLang=en-gb#apprenticeships-new-starts)
- [Apprenticeships - Employer Transfers](https://businessplus.shcg.ac.uk/trainingresources/hubspot?hsLang=en-gb#apprenticeships-employer-transfers)
- [Apprenticeships - End Point Assessment](https://businessplus.shcg.ac.uk/trainingresources/hubspot?hsLang=en-gb#apprenticeships-end-point-assessment)
- [Processes and Pipelines](https://businessplus.shcg.ac.uk/trainingresources/hubspot?hsLang=en-gb#processes-and-pipelines)
- [Digital Apprenticeship Service](https://businessplus.shcg.ac.uk/trainingresources/digital-apprenticeship-service?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Adult and Higher Education](https://businessplus.shcg.ac.uk/trainingresources/adult-and-higher-education?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Manager's Resources](https://businessplus.shcg.ac.uk/trainingresources/managers-resources?hsLang=en-gb)
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